John Aldridge Military person
Lieutenant John Arthur Aldridge MBE was a World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories. He returned to the colours during World War II, joining the Air Training Corps.Aldridge joined the Royal Flying Corps as an officer cadet, and was made a Temporary Second Lieutenant on 24 May 1917. He received Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate 4846 on a Maurice Farman biplane at Ruislip on 16 June 1917. He was posted to No. 19 Squadron in early 1918, where he scored five victories flying the Sopwith Dolphin between April and September. He officially left the RAF on 12 January 1919.On 18 June 1919 Alridge joined the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries as an Assistant Clerk (Abstractor).During World War II he served in the Training Branch of the RAF, with the rank of Pilot Officer, until 31 March 1945.He became Secretary at the Veterinary Laboratory near Woking, and in December 1948 was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire for his work in the Civil Service.